Tyler’s Favorite Books in 2019: Seven Categories and Runner Ups

Hey everyone! Here are some of the books that I most enjoyed this year. This year, I did my favorite categories of books. Here are seven of them:  

1) Favorite Fiction Book: 

Bruce Longenecker, The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from The New Testament World

This book of historical fiction is fantastic. It’s a story based on two characters we meet in the Bible, Luke and Antipas (Rev 2:13). The ambiguity of Antipas’ history allows New Testament scholar Bruce Longenecker to write an imaginative yet realistic story. How does a person named after Herod Antipas become not only a Christian, but a martyr? Through a series of letters with the legendary Luke and his Jesus, Antipas will never be the same.  

Runner up: Lew Wallace, Ben-Hur

2) Favorite Marriage Book:

Dave and Ann Wilson, Vertical Marriage: The One Secret That Will Change Your Marriage

I read six marriage/relationship books this year, but I think Vertical Marriage has been my favorite (ignore the annoying, clickbait-y title). Many of us have heard the basic premise elsewhere, that the most successful marriages go vertical (to God), and don’t just stay at the horizontal, person to person level. “The couple that prayers together, stays together.” What the book lacks in theological depth it makes up for in story, humor, extreme vulnerability, and practicality. Recommended for anyone married, preparing for marriage, or interested in being married one day.      

Runner up: John Gottman, Julie Schwartz Gottman, Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love

3) Favorite Productivity/How-To Book:

Tim Pollard, The Compelling Communicator: Mastering the Art and Science of Exceptional Presentation Design

Calling all communicators (preachers, speakers, presenters, or argumentative Gen-Zers): read this book! So much communication isn’t very good. Or to say it more accurately, it’s not very memorable. Pollard works with everyone from CEOs to pastors to help craft more audience-centric, well-argued, intentional, organized, memorable presentations. I constantly am asking myself: What is the one thing I want people to remember from this talk? And how do I get there? Or more importantly, what do I need to cut out so that people get what they really need to hear. As my friend Jody Bormoth often says: “Eliminate and concentrate!” Pollard will help you do this!

Runner up: Cal Newport, Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success In A Distracted World

4) Favorite Historical Book:

Tom Holland, Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World

This behemoth is not for the faint of heart (624 pages). But historian Tom Holland compellingly traces so many values that we all share back to Christianity. The value of the individual, the dignity of women, the evils of slavery, the necessity of consent for sex, the separation of church and state, the scientific method, even atheism, secularism, and humanism all have roots in Christianity. “Humanism is a kind of godless Protestantism. . .” says Holland. You don’t have to be a Christian to recognize how deeply Christianity has impacted the way you view and value the world.   

If you don’t have time for the book, see a few of the links below. One of my favorite podcast episodes of all time is a discussion with Tom Holland and the late Larry Hurtado: Why I Changed My Mind On Christian History - listen to it here.

And there’s the more recent Unbelievable? debate between atheist philosopher AC Grayling and Tom Holland: watch it here.

Runner up: Larry W. Hurtado, Destroyer Of The Gods: Early Christian Distinctiveness In the Roman World

5) Favorite Kicking Secularism Book (i.e. good reminders that there’s more than just the physical world around us):

Mike Cosper, Recapturing The Wonder: Transcendent Faith in a Disenchanted World

While setting out to write a book on spiritual disciplines, like reading the Bible and prayer, Cosper came up against a familiar foe threatening to derail the whole project: Doubt, the kind of deep doubt that approaches every supernatural claim with skepticism. But Cosper wants us to be skeptical of our skepticism. It comes from somewhere. There a reason we are more skeptical, cynical, and doubt-filled than our ancestors, and it’s more cultural than rational. This book really opened my eyes to the kind of disenchanting story of modernity, and our capacity for a different story that accounts for the transcendent. Spiritual disciplines actually come back into the project, not to be a good Christian, but to recapture the wonder of life with God. 

Runner up: Scot McKnight, The Hum of Angels: Listening for the Messengers of God Around Us

6) Favorite Devotional Work:

Minister’s Prayer Book: An Order of Prayers and Readings, Edited by John W. Doberstein

I don’t know about you guys, but my devotional life needs structure, or it will flounder. When I wake up in my pre-caffeinated coma, I want to do whatever I can to eliminate choice for what to read that morning (no Bible-roulette!) This book, designated originally for Lutheran pastors, found its way to my non-denominational desk (thanks to college pastor Travis Osborne). And I’ve really enjoyed it. It includes a 1. Daily Order of Prayer (with written confessions, creeds, scripture passages, and prayers), 2. A Two-Year Lectionary (Bible Reading Plan), 3) Meditations for Ministers, (short devotions on the pastoral ministry by pastors), and 4. Some great appendixes as well, like Martin Luther’s A Simple Way to Pray. Recommended for pastors or people who want a more structured devotional life. 

Incidentally, they are coming out with an updated Minister’s Prayer Book in February, with some additional prayers from women, people of color, and non-western Christians. Should be interesting!  

Runner up: Tim and Kathy Keller, God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

7) Favorite Socio-Political Book:

Tim Alberta, American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump

Against my better judgment, I’m including a political book in my list. Keep scrolling if you’re burned out. But American Carnage is a fascinating page-turner, with some great analysis on the context and conditions leading to Trump’s presidency. This book neither glorifies Trump nor demonizes him, but does help explain him, his allies, and his adversaries. No matter your political leanings, I think this book helps all of us better understand our political moment. And you’ll hopefully laugh a little bit as real life seems so satirical.

Runner up: Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff, The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions And Bad Ideas Are Setting Up A Generation For Failure

Thanks for reading! You can see my additional book list below. A read does not equal and endorsement (Keep your friends close and your enemies closer). 

What books did you most enjoy in 2019?

-Pastor Tyler

Additional Books 2019

“Dead-Guy” Books

King James Translators: Translators to the Reader: Preface to the King James Version of 1611

Plato, Apology

John Owen, Gospel Grounds of Assurance (Vintage Puritan)

Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses

Early Evangelicalism: A Reader- Edited Jonathan M. Yeager

George Mueller, The Life of Trust: The Autobiography of George Mueller

Papias, Fragments of Papias of Hierapolis, Roberts-Donaldson English Translation

Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel In A Pluralist Society

The Epistle of Barnabas, Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson.

The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson

The Shepherd of Hermes, Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson

The Code of Hammurabi, Translated by L. W. King

Exodus, Septuagint Edition(Greek)

Valley of Vision, A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, Edited by Arthur G. Bennett

E.M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer

E.M. Bounds, Prayer and Praying Men

Fiction/Biography Books

Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Rich Roll, Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself

Joe Hilley, The Deposition

Bruce Olson, Bruchko: The Astonishing true story of a 19 year-old American-his capture by the Motiline Indians and his adventures in Christianizing the Stone Age tribe

Robert Siegel, Alpha Centauri

Madeleine L’Engle, A Wrinkle In Time

Madeleine L’Engle, A Wind In The Door

Madeleine L’Engle, A Swiftly Tilting Planet

George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin

Lew Wallace, Ben-Hur

Tim Tigner, The Price of Time

David Wilkerson, The Cross and the Switchblade

Eva Schloss, with Evelyn Julia Kent, Eva’s Story: A Holocaust Survivor’s Tale by the Step Sister of Anne Frank

Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America’s Future

Marriage Books

Francis and Lisa Chan, You and Me Forever: Marriage In Light of Eternity

John Piper, This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence

Gary Thomas, Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?

Paul David Tripp, What Did You Expect: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage

John Townsend, Henry Cloud, Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life

Commentaries

Rob Bell, Blood, Guts, and Fire: The Gospel According to Leviticus, Part III

Rob Bell, Blood, Guts, and Fire: The Gospel According to Leviticus, Part IV

R. Alan Cole, Exodus: An Introduction and Commentary

Dennis Prager, The Rational Bible: Exodus

Peter Enns, Exodus, The NIV Application Commentary: From Biblical Text…to Contemporary Life

Brevard Childs, The Book of Exodus: A Critical, Theological Commentary

Scot McKnight, Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel in Search of Peace in the Midst of the Empire

Contemporary Books

John Dunlop, MD, Wellness for the Glory of God: Living Well After 40 With Joy And Contentment in All of Life

Bob Goff, Love Does: Discover A Secretly Incredible Life In An Ordinary World

Scott Sauls, From Weakness To Strength: 8 Vulnerabilities that Can Bring Out the Best in Your Leadership

Chip Heath and Dan Heath, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

Bessel Van der Kolk MD, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life in Christ

John C. Maxwell, Be A People Person: Effective Leadership Through Effective Relationships

Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Church: A Strategy for Discipleship that Actually Changes Lives

Edward Barnhart, Ancient Civilizations of North America

Alan Noble, Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in a Distracted Age

Our Secular Age: Ten Years of Reading and Applying Charles Taylor, Edited by Collin Hansen

Cal Newport, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

Doug Pollock, God Space: Where Spiritual Conversations Happen Naturally.

C.R. Wiley, Man of the House: A Handbook For Building a Shelter That Will Last In A World That Is Falling Apart

James K.A. Smith, How (Not) To Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor

Martin Dugard, To Be A Runner: How Racing Up Mountains, Running With The Bulls,

Or Just Taking On A 5-K Makes You A Better Person (And The World A Better Place)

Larry W. Hurtado, Destroyer Of The Gods: Early Christian Distinctiveness In the Roman World

A Parent’s Guide to Snapchat (Axis Parent’s Guide)

John C. Maxwell, Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership

Jennifer Alison, Self-Discipline: Develop Good Habits Achieve Your Goals

Walter Brueggemann, Sabbath As Resistance: Saying NO To The Culture OF NOW

Michael Malice, The New Right: A Journey To The Fringe of American Politics

Dale Maharidge, The Dead Drink First

Sam Chan, Preaching the Word of God: Answering an Old Question with Speech-Act Theory

Tom Nichols, The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters

Joel R. Beeke, Reformed Preaching: Proclaiming God’s Word from the Heart of the Preacher to the Heart of His People

Paul David Tripp, Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry

Michael S. Sorenson, I Hear You, The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships

Ari Meisel, The Art of Less Doing: One Entrepreneur’s Formula For a Beautiful Life

Malcolm Gladwell, Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About People We Don’t Know

Ravi Zacharias, Recapture The Wonder

Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace Revisited, New Chapters on Marriage, Singles, Kids and Families

Thom Rainer, The Unchurched Next-Door: Understanding Faith Stages As Keys To Sharing Your Faith

James K.A. Smith, On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts

Timothy Ferris: The 4-Hour Workweek, Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, And Join The New Rich

Daniel R. Williamson, Trusting Both God and Science: Reconciling the Bible and Science Concerning Creation

Rich Birch, Effective Announcements: Leveraging 5 Minutes in Every Church Service to Move People to Action

Marie Kondo, The Life Changing Magic of Tiding: A Simple, Effective Way to Banish Clutter Forever